OFT's bus referral is ‘a costly and unnecessary distraction’

Nicola Shaw, Director Bus - UK, Ireland and Germany, FirstGroup

Nicola Shaw, Director Bus - UK, Ireland and Germany, FirstGroup

The local bus market is very competitive. We compete with large and small operators in towns and cities across the UK and, of course, we are competing against private cars. Passenger satisfaction is very high – and growing –now standing at 84% in metropolitan areas and 79% in London.

We are concerned about the timing – this could become an unnecessary and costly distraction from the objective of improving traffic congestion by attracting people out of cars and onto local bus...